Re: ODA Committee Press Release dd Oct. 6, 2000; The ODA Committee is a voluntary coalition of individuals and community organizations who have united to secure the passage in Ontario of a new law which would achieve a barrier-free society for persons with disabilities.

ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES
ACT COMMITTEE

NEWS RELEASE - FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

PREMIER HARRIS MUST REJECT LEAKED
GOVERNMENT PLANS THAT BREAK PROMISES TO
1.5 MILLION ONTARIANS WITH DISABILITIES

Friday, October 6, 2000 - A secret
Harris Cabinet document, released by the Liberals this week, reveals
that the Harris Government has mapped out detailed, cruel and
cynical plans for systematically breaking its promises to 1.5
million Ontarians with disabilities. The leaked draft submission
to Cabinet's powerful Priorities and Planning Committee reveals
Government plans for an Ontarians with Disabilities Act which
will do nothing new.

"This document exposes that Premier Harris cares only about
marketing his
do-nothing plans while he continues to refuse to meet with people
with disabilities to work out a meaningful new bill", said
David Lepofsky, chair of the province-wide
non-partisan ODA Committee. "He promised us real and meaningful
action, but plans nothing more than hurtful tokenism."

In the 1995 election, Premier Harris promised to enact the Ontarians
with
Disabilities Act in his first term - legislation necessary to
achieve a barrier-free Ontario for those who have a disability
now or in the future. He also pledged to work together with the
ODA Committee to develop this law. He has done neither.

Two years ago, the Harris Government introduced a toothless three-page
bill
which did not require the removal of a single barrier anywhere
in Ontario. It was widely condemned across Ontario, and died on
the order paper days after first reading.

In the 1999 election, the Harris Government promised a new round
of public
consultations, to be followed by a stronger law. The government
committed in a 1999 all-party resolution to enact a Disabilities
Act which is "strong and effective."

This leaked document shows Mike Harris plans to break every promise
he has
made to Ontarians with disabilities on this subject. Yet he keeps
claiming he is a
man of his word.

"We now know that Citizenship Minister Helen Johns' September
8, 2000
meeting to consult with us was a staged scam. She had already
gone to Cabinet with her plans to pass a sham of a bill. Yet she
claimed during our meeting that she is open to all ideas, wants
to consult with people with disabilities on this legislation,
and even wants us to publicize her availability to consult,"
said Lepofsky.

The ODA Committee has called for an urgent meeting with the Premier.
It
challenges the Premier to categorically reject this document and
to show that he will keep his promises, so that all Ontarians
can truly and fully take part in Ontario life.